Back home, and it sure feels good. As much as we love traveling, it's always wonderful to get home again. More about our adventures at the boat yard and such tomorow.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Things are going well.
We have stopped living on the boat, as of Friday. On Friday we took Smokey to her tempory home with Phyllis and Peter (she's familiar with them and their house, and is ---within cat limits --- relatively happy there. They have big windows with birds and squirrels, plus Peter dotes on her.
On Saturday we drove the 400 miles to Savannah in a rental car. Visited Beth for the evening. Actually she had a girlfriend party so I had a wonderful time with a housefull of girls. Luke had a wonderful time going out for Mexican food and wandering Best Buy/Lowes/etc. On Sunday morning, we left Savannah, drove south for 100 miles to Jekyll, and picked up our car. Back to New Bern with both cars --- we were in a car from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with the exception of an hour or so at the Jekyll marina. A LONG DAY!
Monday, Luke and Peter returned the rental, Luke went to the boat to do some "stuff", and I spent a lovely day with Phyllis. Monday was also Luke's birthday! A birthday celebration, complete with balloons, chocolate cake, and chocolate ice cream, awaited his return Monday evening.
Tuesday --- today --- we are both back at Latitudes. The engine work is finished with the exception of a test ride. We will spend most of the day moving off of the boat and hopefully getting her put on the hard for her summer storage. Moving off of the boat is a major chore. Lottsa stuff to take off and store. There are also chores such as taking down our enclosure and putting a cover over the cockpit and such once she is on the hard. More time consuming work.
Smoke is happily waiting with Phyllis and Peter. We will be back there tonight. When we can actually get Latitudes on the hard will determine when we leave for home. Will keep you posted!
On Saturday we drove the 400 miles to Savannah in a rental car. Visited Beth for the evening. Actually she had a girlfriend party so I had a wonderful time with a housefull of girls. Luke had a wonderful time going out for Mexican food and wandering Best Buy/Lowes/etc. On Sunday morning, we left Savannah, drove south for 100 miles to Jekyll, and picked up our car. Back to New Bern with both cars --- we were in a car from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with the exception of an hour or so at the Jekyll marina. A LONG DAY!
Monday, Luke and Peter returned the rental, Luke went to the boat to do some "stuff", and I spent a lovely day with Phyllis. Monday was also Luke's birthday! A birthday celebration, complete with balloons, chocolate cake, and chocolate ice cream, awaited his return Monday evening.
Tuesday --- today --- we are both back at Latitudes. The engine work is finished with the exception of a test ride. We will spend most of the day moving off of the boat and hopefully getting her put on the hard for her summer storage. Moving off of the boat is a major chore. Lottsa stuff to take off and store. There are also chores such as taking down our enclosure and putting a cover over the cockpit and such once she is on the hard. More time consuming work.
Smoke is happily waiting with Phyllis and Peter. We will be back there tonight. When we can actually get Latitudes on the hard will determine when we leave for home. Will keep you posted!
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
We made it! EDITION 2, WITH PICTURES AND MORE ...
360 sea miles and 58 hours later, and we're in Morehead City, NC. Mind you, this same trip will take about 6 hours later this week when we go back to Jekyll to pick up the car....not as scenic, though! More than 12 miles out to sea, we saw loons
gannets
sea turtles, and dolphins.
The trip went well, just a bit more rolling seas than we had hoped for. Every one, including Smokey, did fine.
Leaving Fernandina Beach, we saw old Ft. Clinch.
We are now tied up at the Sanitary Seafood Restaurant. For those of you who are long time blog readers, this is where we spent Christmas, 2008, while Luke had meniscus surgery on his knee. Much better this time!
Here is Latitudes, tied up at the restaurant.
A good night of sleep and we will travel the final 25 miles to Oriental, NC tomorrow. There we will arrange for some work on Latitudes, pack her up for the summer and fall, and visit friends Phyllis and Peter. THEN -- HOME TO ROANOKE!!!!
************ We did leave Morehead City this morning, but a couple of hours later than anticipated...fog...ugh...
It cleared by 10 a.m., giving Smokey what she seems to love --- perched on the side of the boat, diligently watching whatever passes by. She's always very interested and will sit, watching, for long periods of time.
We are now securely at at dock in our new home in Oriental. Seems nice enough, complete with electricity and water. Some in-water work will be done over the next few days, we'll pick up the car from Jekyll over the weekend, and when the in-water work is done, Latitudes will be moved to the "hard" until we return next winter to take her south again.
Dinner with Phyllis and Peter tonight. A good walk for Smokey along the deserted dock around dusk. And to bed early again! It's nice to know we are basically at the end of this trip, just putting things to bed for the season.
gannets
sea turtles, and dolphins.
The trip went well, just a bit more rolling seas than we had hoped for. Every one, including Smokey, did fine.
Leaving Fernandina Beach, we saw old Ft. Clinch.
We are now tied up at the Sanitary Seafood Restaurant. For those of you who are long time blog readers, this is where we spent Christmas, 2008, while Luke had meniscus surgery on his knee. Much better this time!
Here is Latitudes, tied up at the restaurant.
A good night of sleep and we will travel the final 25 miles to Oriental, NC tomorrow. There we will arrange for some work on Latitudes, pack her up for the summer and fall, and visit friends Phyllis and Peter. THEN -- HOME TO ROANOKE!!!!
************ We did leave Morehead City this morning, but a couple of hours later than anticipated...fog...ugh...
It cleared by 10 a.m., giving Smokey what she seems to love --- perched on the side of the boat, diligently watching whatever passes by. She's always very interested and will sit, watching, for long periods of time.
We are now securely at at dock in our new home in Oriental. Seems nice enough, complete with electricity and water. Some in-water work will be done over the next few days, we'll pick up the car from Jekyll over the weekend, and when the in-water work is done, Latitudes will be moved to the "hard" until we return next winter to take her south again.
Dinner with Phyllis and Peter tonight. A good walk for Smokey along the deserted dock around dusk. And to bed early again! It's nice to know we are basically at the end of this trip, just putting things to bed for the season.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Headin' north!
It's been a rainy, chilly, dreary few days in Fernandina Beach --- so much for FL in the spring! The sun fnally popped out today and it was wonderful. Still very windy and choppy seas, but the sun made it all ok.
Our plan is to leave Fernandina Beach tomorrow (Sunday) around 8 a.m. If all goes to plan, we will arrive in Morehead City, NC, either on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning. That depends on the winds and current. It is a long trip, but we will be close to shore most of the time and the weather forecast is for calm and mild seas. Not exactly great "sailing weather" but certainly good "traveling weather". There are numerous inlets between here and Morehead City if we should decide to divert for any reason so we are very comfortable with our decision to make the trip.
It's hard to believe that our winter journey is so close to being over...
Our plan is to leave Fernandina Beach tomorrow (Sunday) around 8 a.m. If all goes to plan, we will arrive in Morehead City, NC, either on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning. That depends on the winds and current. It is a long trip, but we will be close to shore most of the time and the weather forecast is for calm and mild seas. Not exactly great "sailing weather" but certainly good "traveling weather". There are numerous inlets between here and Morehead City if we should decide to divert for any reason so we are very comfortable with our decision to make the trip.
It's hard to believe that our winter journey is so close to being over...
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Pelicans ARE dumb..
I just saw the funniest thing....sitting across from a seafood house, I am seeing loads of opportunistic pelicans. One saw a plastic bag float through the air --- thought it was scraps or something I guess. Up he flew, wrestled the thing down to the ground, and as he struggled with the rascal, he rolled down the ramp with it before he subdued it. giggle. He's still sitting at the top of the ramp, eyeing the bad bag as the rest of the pelicans sit in a gaggle in the water. Wish I had the video camera going!
Spending time in Fernandina Beach
We are here for a few days so time for a blog!
A passing boat caught these 2 shots of Latitudes under sail in the Gulf Stream; the first being our newest "under sail" picture.
We like this one of us, sailing into the sunset.
Smokey was bored.
The paper plant at night? Lit up!
Sitting at anchor, we loved seeing a submarine come into the channel, headed for the Kingsport Sub facility. Not the best picture ever, but it is a sub!
Then, in the other direction, a pontoon parasailer!
We are at the boaters lounge at the marina - nice showers and laundry facilities. Laundry is almost done, showers are done, and blog is done!
A passing boat caught these 2 shots of Latitudes under sail in the Gulf Stream; the first being our newest "under sail" picture.
We like this one of us, sailing into the sunset.
Smokey was bored.
The paper plant at night? Lit up!
Sitting at anchor, we loved seeing a submarine come into the channel, headed for the Kingsport Sub facility. Not the best picture ever, but it is a sub!
The town of Fernandina Beach is full of beautiful old houses, similar to this one.
Helpful pelicans sit on the docks, waiting to "introduce" our dinghy to Fernandina. sigh.
We are at the boaters lounge at the marina - nice showers and laundry facilities. Laundry is almost done, showers are done, and blog is done!
Monday, April 1, 2013
Riding the Stream
It is always bittersweet - leaving the Bahamas and returning to the US. Our time in the Bahamas was great this year with lots of new friends and meeting up with cruisers from the past years. But it was time, so we said good-bye to one last Bahamian sunset anchored behind Yankee Cay, in the northern Abacos.
We pulled up anchor at early light, about 7 a.m. on Friday and headed across the shallow Little Bahama Bank towards the Gulf Stream and ultimately, Florida. We sailed (yes sailed) for the first 60 miles across the clear relatively shallow (15 to 25 ft) waters before we reached the Atlantic Ocean abyss (1000's of ft) and turned NW towards the Gulf Stream.
The flow of the Gulf Stream is shown in the chart below, the red "line" that starts near the FL coast and goes almost due north until it reaches the SC border. The color code of speeds is shown on the scale on the right, with the red being 3.5 kts or more.
Riding the Gulf Stream was pretty interesting. From the chart below, we knew the approximate location of the maximum speeds of the current. We left the Little Bahama Bank at a latitude of about 27N and a longitude of about 79W, angling NW toward stream. We were motor sailing with just the main sail at about 6.5 kts in diminishing winds and light at about 7:00 PM. There was a 5-6 ft swell from the NE with a 5 to 6 second period left over from stronger northerly winds, that had given us the nice 60 mile sail on the banks, which now made the boat motion a bit "tedious". Over the next 30 or 40 miles, we watched the moon rise at about 10:15 PM and our speed over ground (from the GPS) slowly creep up through 8.9 knots at about 2:00 AM. We turned north, edging slightly east to see if we could find more speed. We did indeed, and by hunting slightly east and then slightly west of north, stayed "in the stream" for the next ten hours, with speeds between 9 and 10 kts, a "free" extra speed of 3 to 3.5 kts. We did about 95 miles in about 10 hours, effectively a 40 mile bonus from the Gulf Stream. We turned NW at about 30 deg N and headed NW toward St Mary's inlet, at the FL-GA border, about 85 miles to go. Fortunately, the wind picked up a bit, and we were able to sail most of that distance on a beam reach in 12 to 15 kt winds, doing about 5.5. to 6.5 kts. With Luke trying to sleep below, Bobbie "tweaked" things bit and got us up to 7 kts. The seas settled down, and we had a nice, quiet, efficient sail through the remainder of the moonlit night.
Finally, 320 nm and 46 tired hours later, we navigated Latitudes up the 5 mile St. Mary's channel (into a 3 kt ebb current) from the Atlantic into Fernandina Beach, FL. At anchor, a little breakfast, and to bed by 6 a.m., slept until almost noon.
Fernandina Beach is a cute little tourist town, perched on the edge of a major paper mill. The view of the mill and the smell sort of overtake everything else. You should see this place lit up at night! No dark sky here!
Fishing is another large industry in the area, shrimping in particular.
The water was a surprise, too. Remember the clear, aqua water of the Bahamas? The water where you can watch the bottom, and see our anchor chain, at 30 feet?
Not here --- crayon brown water, clean but impossible to see through.
Our plan is to take Latitudes to Oriental, NC and leave her there for the summer. She will have some maintenance done and be "on the hard" instead of sitting in the water, growing scum on her bottom. The hope was to dash up there as soon as we arrived in the US. However, Mother Nature has other plans. The weather through Friday blows either straight onto our bow (not pleasant sailing) or very hard straight onto our bow (even less pleasant sailing). So, we have opted to stay here through Friday unless there is a major weather change. In addition to Fernandina Beach, the Georgia side of the St. Mary's channel has the cute little town of St. Mary's. We may move the boat over there for a few of the days that we are recouping here. We are not complaining!!!
We pulled up anchor at early light, about 7 a.m. on Friday and headed across the shallow Little Bahama Bank towards the Gulf Stream and ultimately, Florida. We sailed (yes sailed) for the first 60 miles across the clear relatively shallow (15 to 25 ft) waters before we reached the Atlantic Ocean abyss (1000's of ft) and turned NW towards the Gulf Stream.
The flow of the Gulf Stream is shown in the chart below, the red "line" that starts near the FL coast and goes almost due north until it reaches the SC border. The color code of speeds is shown on the scale on the right, with the red being 3.5 kts or more.
Riding the Gulf Stream was pretty interesting. From the chart below, we knew the approximate location of the maximum speeds of the current. We left the Little Bahama Bank at a latitude of about 27N and a longitude of about 79W, angling NW toward stream. We were motor sailing with just the main sail at about 6.5 kts in diminishing winds and light at about 7:00 PM. There was a 5-6 ft swell from the NE with a 5 to 6 second period left over from stronger northerly winds, that had given us the nice 60 mile sail on the banks, which now made the boat motion a bit "tedious". Over the next 30 or 40 miles, we watched the moon rise at about 10:15 PM and our speed over ground (from the GPS) slowly creep up through 8.9 knots at about 2:00 AM. We turned north, edging slightly east to see if we could find more speed. We did indeed, and by hunting slightly east and then slightly west of north, stayed "in the stream" for the next ten hours, with speeds between 9 and 10 kts, a "free" extra speed of 3 to 3.5 kts. We did about 95 miles in about 10 hours, effectively a 40 mile bonus from the Gulf Stream. We turned NW at about 30 deg N and headed NW toward St Mary's inlet, at the FL-GA border, about 85 miles to go. Fortunately, the wind picked up a bit, and we were able to sail most of that distance on a beam reach in 12 to 15 kt winds, doing about 5.5. to 6.5 kts. With Luke trying to sleep below, Bobbie "tweaked" things bit and got us up to 7 kts. The seas settled down, and we had a nice, quiet, efficient sail through the remainder of the moonlit night.
Finally, 320 nm and 46 tired hours later, we navigated Latitudes up the 5 mile St. Mary's channel (into a 3 kt ebb current) from the Atlantic into Fernandina Beach, FL. At anchor, a little breakfast, and to bed by 6 a.m., slept until almost noon.
Fernandina Beach is a cute little tourist town, perched on the edge of a major paper mill. The view of the mill and the smell sort of overtake everything else. You should see this place lit up at night! No dark sky here!
Fishing is another large industry in the area, shrimping in particular.
The water was a surprise, too. Remember the clear, aqua water of the Bahamas? The water where you can watch the bottom, and see our anchor chain, at 30 feet?
Not here --- crayon brown water, clean but impossible to see through.
Our plan is to take Latitudes to Oriental, NC and leave her there for the summer. She will have some maintenance done and be "on the hard" instead of sitting in the water, growing scum on her bottom. The hope was to dash up there as soon as we arrived in the US. However, Mother Nature has other plans. The weather through Friday blows either straight onto our bow (not pleasant sailing) or very hard straight onto our bow (even less pleasant sailing). So, we have opted to stay here through Friday unless there is a major weather change. In addition to Fernandina Beach, the Georgia side of the St. Mary's channel has the cute little town of St. Mary's. We may move the boat over there for a few of the days that we are recouping here. We are not complaining!!!
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